Photograph by Ian D. Hall
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
There is something very enjoyable and musically intense about a Deacon Blue concert in Liverpool. Whether it is part of the Liverpool Summer Pops Festival or as part of a national tour in support of a major anniversary, there is always a huge appreciative and very vocal audience that welcomes them to the Liverpool Echo Arena.
Liverpool, unlike almost every city that the Scottish band play in, is possibly more partisan and incredibly biased about their enthusiasm for the songs of Ricky Ross and Deacon Blue, always passionate, approving and understandably knowledgeable about almost every song the group perform. It is this unique element of the Glasgow working and artistic class that Deacon Blue bring to the city that makes them such a huge draw for a people that identify very closely with the ethic and songs.
Deacon Blue came to Liverpool on the back of their latest studio album, The Hipsters, and proceeded to give a performance that left the band and the packed out Echo Arena’s audience in fine spirits.
Opening the evening with Here I Am In London Town and the new album’s title track set the standard incredibly high for the night ahead and as each song was played out in front of the 5,500 audience, each song that followed became more of a personal statement and almost every word seemed to be a love note to the city they were performing in.
In amongst a cracking set that was celebrating the bands 25th anniversary of the debut release of Raintown, were old favourites from the bands distinguished career and a couple of new tracks from the latest release. Included in the huge set list were songs such as That’s What We Can Do Now, Stars, the stunning Chocolate Girl, Real Gone Kid and Queen of the New Year.
Sometimes a band forgets why they play at certain city on a tour, to some bands it’s just the concentration of a fan base in which to maximise potential but to Deacon Blue it has to be said they have never forgotten the people of city that others forget and it was immensely touching to see Ricky Ross give a personal message about the city and the injustice it has had since 1989. This was further enhanced a terrific version Twist and Shout during the encores which alongside Dignity and Wages Day gave the Liverpool crowd an enjoyable end to a great night of music.
Ian D. Hall